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Transition News and Resources - April 2016
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Applications are now being accepted for the 2016 Community Investment Fund! The Community Investment Fund is a small pot of money ($2400 in 2016, which may be divided between several recipients) that the Rural Institute has made available for inclusive, innovative projects or programs that will help people with disabilities live, learn, work and play in their communities alongside people without disabilities. Any Montana organization, agency, non-profit group, or individual with a creative idea to promote community inclusion is eligible to apply. Applications are due May 15, 2016. (Please note - this is an extension from the originally advertised deadline.)
Montana Vocational Rehabilitation has partnered with the University of Montana's Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities to offer Movin' On in Montana, a free summer transition program for high school students. This is a four-day, on-campus experience for any Montana high school student (age 15-19) with a disability who is considering college. Students will stay in a residence hall, attend seminars, take campus tours, experience a college lecture, become familiar with student resources and participate in community activities. Seminar topics include assistive technology, self-advocacy and choosing a college major.
Session 1 will take place June 27-30; session 2 will run from July 11-14. The registration deadline is May 1st for session 1 and June 1st for session 2.
Register now for the first-ever Disability Employability Conference to be held in Great Falls May 11-13, 2016. This conference will provide information to assist in exploring and understanding employment options. Employers, job seekers, educators, families, and program staff are encouraged to attend.
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Save the date! The 2016 Montana Youth in Transition Conference will be held in Helena at the Radisson Colonial Inn on November 14-16, 2016. Youth with disabilities, families, educators, counselors and service providers are invited to connect, collaborate and learn more about transition planning at this exciting annual event.
The Pacific Alliance on Disability Self Advocacy (PADSA) has opened the 2016 mini-grant cycle [PDF]. The cycle is for groups in Montana, California, Oregon, and Washington. These mini-grants (usually between $250 and $2,000) will be given to a state self-advocacy group so that the group can do a specific project. The group must be run by self-advocates with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. The group must also have a 501(c)(3) non-profit status to get the money, or have another group with non-profit status to handle the money for them. Applications [PDF] are due on May 5, 2016. (Please note - this is an extension from the originally advertised deadline.)
A new resource is now available for transition services in the state of Montana. Through a contract with Montana Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services, the Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) Technical Assistance Center will provide technical assistance to Montana schools and VRBS staff regarding Pre-ETS for high school students. If you would like to learn about Pre-ETS training opportunities, resources, technical assistance availability and more, join the Montana Pre-ETS online mailing list.
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Self-Advocacy and Advocacy
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Can Benefits and Work Incentives Counseling Be a Path to Future Economic Self-Sufficiency for Individuals with Disabilities? by Z.E. Nazarov (Journal of Labor Research, 2016) reports research findings that benefits counseling for Supplemental Security Income/Social Security Disability Insurance beneficiaries "can increase the probability of successful (VR) case closure by 5.2 percentage points. At the same time, these services can increase the earnings and working hours of beneficiaries by $42 and 3.3 hours per week, respectively. Moreover, there is a $0.59 per hour increase in the wage rate for service recipients." (Article abstract is free; the full text version may require a subscription or purchase.)
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Download the Taxonomy for Transition Programming 2.0 [PDF], which provides practices for implementing transition-focused education. The taxonomy "brings in the latest literature regarding predictors of post- school success, strategies to increase graduation and reduce dropout, school climate, and vocational rehabilitation services focused on fostering successful transition of youth with disabilities in college and careers."
Functional Behavioral Assessments and Behavior Support Plans for Work-Based Learning by A. Kittelman, K. Wagner Bromley, and V. L. Mazzotti (Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 39(2), 121-127) provides information about how functional behavioral assessments and behavior support plans, tools routinely used in schools, can be adapted for use in employment settings. (Article abstract is free; the full text version may require a subscription or purchase.) |
The HealthCARE Montana website features information and resources related to this partnership between the Montana Department of Labor and Industry and many of Montana's two-year colleges. The partnership builds a pathway to training programs that will meet the current and future needs of organizations in the healthcare sector.
The National Parent Center on Transition and Employment website features a Learning Center introducing key transition topics and links to online resources; a library of videos produced for transition-age youth with disabilities and their families; success stories from and about youth with disabilities; a library of publications and transition-related articles; and the latest posts featured on the site's companion Facebook page. |
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Learning Opportunities - Montana and Online
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Summit Independent Living Center in Missoula is offering a variety of classes this spring, including Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP), Soft Skills Training for Youth, Working Well with a Disability, and more. Contact Kathy Boyer at Summit (406-728-1630) for more information.
The archived recording of Supporting Individuals with I/DD and Mental Health Needs is now available for viewing. This webinar explored the use of a biopsychosocial framework and case-presentation forum in order to identify and address the support needs of individuals with IDD and co-occurring mental health diagnoses or complex behavior presentations.
April 27, 2016
1:00-2:00 PM MT
This webcast will address how to instruct individuals with ASD who need a higher level of support to obtain successful personal independence in the community. Strategies for reaching independence in the areas of physical health, social health, and community participation will be shared.
April 27, 2016
1:00-2:00 PM MT
Presenters will share tips, tools and resources that can help attendees learn about Ticket to Work and Work Incentives; how to choose a service provider; and the importance of receiving long-term employment supports after beneficiaries start working.
April 27, 2016
12:00-1:00 PM MT
This webcast will provide information about building a solid financial foundation and helping prepare college seniors and young workers to make informed financial decisions including planning, budgeting, saving, and managing debt.
April 28, 2016
1:00-2:00 PM MT
This webinar will address the rights to sexual citizenship of people with disabilities and ways to advance sexual self-advocacy as a best-practice strategy to facilitate empowerment among people with disabilities.
April 28, 2016
1:00-2:30 PM MT
Join this webinar to learn about financial literacy tools and resources, along with implementation strategies to integrate within the employment and workforce development services.
April 28, 2016
11:00 AM-12:00 PM MT
This webinar is designed for family members, people with developmental disabilities, and advocates. It will include a presentation and Q & A session. Professionals are welcome to attend; however, questions from family members and consumers will be given priority.
May 3, 2016
10:00-11:00 AM MT
This webinar is designed to give service providers for persons with psychiatric disabilities information to make the process of entering and engaging in post-secondary education clear and manageable.
May 10, 2016
1:00-2:30 PM MT
Have you ever done a jigsaw puzzle? You start with a pile of pieces and, one at a time, fit the pieces together so you can see the picture. Figuring out how your adult life will look is a bit like putting together a puzzle. Join presenters from the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities Consumer Advisory Council to explore pieces of adulthood such as mental health, transportation, college, recreation and more...and watch the puzzle take shape!
May 10, 2016
1:30-2:30 PM MT
This webcast will discuss the importance of using person-centered planning tools for individuals with ASD pre-k through adulthood.
May 11-13, 2016
Great Falls, MT
This conference will provide information to assist in exploring and understanding employment options. Employers, job seekers, educators, families, and program staff are encouraged to attend.
May 12, 2016
10:30 AM-12:00 PM MT
This presentation will focus on how group discovery can be used as a tool in the class or resource room to help students think about: What they have to offer employers; Tasks they would like to perform on a work site; What they need to be successful; and When they are at their best.
May 12, 2016
12:00-1:00 PM MT
The presenters will describe the types and purposes of work based learning and work experiences and how they can lead to competitive employment. Also presented will be the functions of a work experience and the primary benefits to students and employers. Presenters will define the responsibilities of students, teachers, rehabilitation counselors, and employers during work experiences and what constitutes a quality work experience.
May 20, 2016
9:30-10:30 AM MT
Webinar participants will be able to identify several resources that are available to help guide the discussion regarding support for adults with disabilities to have healthy intimate relationships, as well as learn about activities that promote healthy intimate relationships for adults with disabilities.
May 23-June 20, 2016
Cost: $125
The course will cover Supported Employment/Customized Employment; Job Development; Business Research; Employer Relations; Job-seeker Representation; Employer Concerns; and more. |
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